🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Maracaibo versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Maracaibo versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Maracaibo versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 67% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maracaibo is 45% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37VES 5,777
$15.91€13.69
-34.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.97VES 22.3K
$64.8€55.7
-38.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.82VES 4,915
$10.51€9.04
-16.08%
Cappuccino
$2.65VES 1,476
$2.87€2.47
-7.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20VES 671
$2.24€1.93
-46.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30VES 724
$1.50€1.29
-13.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32VES 1,290
$3.49€3.00
-33.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95VES 1,643
$3.88€3.34
-23.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79VES 996
$1.14€0.98
57.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.94VES 1,080
$1.75€1.51
10.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09VES 607
$1.76€1.51
-38.07%
Eggs
$3.19VES 1,775
$3.22€2.77
-0.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.95VES 3,318
$13.49€11.61
-55.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.39VES 3,003
$7.91€6.81
-31.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.08VES 3,386
$15.87€13.65
-61.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.51VES 2,513
$2.31€1.99
95.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38VES 769
$1.70€1.46
-18.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71VES 954
$2.01€1.73
-14.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47VES 820
$2.46€2.12
-40.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16VES 649
$1.84€1.59
-36.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62VES 905
$2.00€1.72
-19.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01VES 564
$1.93€1.66
-47.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60VES 889
$0.79€0.68
102.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43VES 1,914
$6.61€5.68
-48.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.97VES 4,997
$5.72€4.92
56.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06VES 591
$1.37€1.17
-22.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64VES 1,473
$2.97€2.56
-11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51VES 287
$2.37€2.04
-78.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.83VES 23.3K
$45.56€39.19
-8.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.11VES 2,290
$4.29€3.69
-4.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95VES 1,087
$0.82€0.70
137.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.77VES 9,900
$18.30€15.74
-2.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48VES 269
$2.06€1.78
-76.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KVES 12.4M
$34.3K€29.5K
-35.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KVES 17.3M
$39.3K€33.8K
-21.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$16.22VES 9,038
$148€127
-89.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.02VES 5,028
$20.52€17.65
-56.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.85VES 14.4K
$39.61€34.08
-34.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.34VES 19.1K
$47.85€41.16
-28.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.43VES 13.1K
$18.92€16.28
23.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.04VES 2,807
$9.18€7.90
-45.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112VES 62.5K
$614€528
-81.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9KVES 7.8M
$16.0K€13.8K
-13.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.75VES 23.3K
$105€90.0
-60.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.17VES 23.5K
$42.06€36.18
0.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.8VES 32.2K
$94.0€80.8
-38.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.3VES 33.6K
$120€103
-49.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$180VES 100.5K
$1,628€1,400
-88.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101VES 56.0K
$1,255€1,080
-91.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$330VES 183.7K
$3,030€2,607
-89.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$209VES 116.6K
$2,020€1,738
-89.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$759VES 423.0K
$7,800€6,709
-90.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$502VES 279.5K
$4,273€3,675
-88.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracaibo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$196VES 109.5K
$1,603€1,379
-87.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.6
3.81
598.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Maracaibo and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 716% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Maracaibo vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $269 per month, with Maracaibo cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Maracaibo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maracaibo and Lisbon?
Maracaibo and Lisbon differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($734 vs $2,210 including rent). Maracaibo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 716% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Maracaibo and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $180 in Maracaibo versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Maracaibo and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $112 in Maracaibo versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $734 in Maracaibo versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maracaibo and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Maracaibo or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maracaibo and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Maracaibo or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 201% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.